Sample case



May 1, 1928. 1,667,938

7 H. H. LABADIE ET AL SAMPLE CASE Filed Jan.24, 1927 fl lea/(3.1060413 dong;

Patented May 1, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HARRY H. LABAIDIE AND BURTON B. BEERS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS; SAID BEERS ,AS- SIGNOR T KNICKERBOGKER CASE COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORA- TION OF ILLINOIS.

SAMPLE CASE.

Application filed January 24, 1927. Serial No. 163,068. '0

Our invention relates to sample cases and more particularly to the type having stacks of trays therein which are extensible, the trays of a stack being connected in such manner that the same may be moved into superposed or nested position one above another, or extended laterally in stairlike manner for displaying the contents thereof and more readily permitting access thereto.

An object of our invention is to improve the construction and arrangement of the several parts so as tosecure maximum smoothness of operation, to strengthen the structure and to more readily present the several trays for better exposure of the contents thereof, and at the same time preserve the simplicity of construction for trays adapted to carry heavy loads together with ease of assembly and operation without the necessity of adjustment or the use of un handy, heavy and intricate construction.

. Another object of the invention is to improve sample cases having stacks of trays therein adapted to be extended in stair-like manner for display purposes, which cases have hinged sides so disposed that when open the same support the trays in extended position for balancing the load and for properly supporting said extended trays without having to increase the weight or strength of the parts entering into the construction of the trays and the supporting means therefor, thus reducing the cost of such equipment for displaying of heavy samples or the like.

A further object of the invention is to provide an extensible sample case having hinged side members and stacks of trays-therein, which stacks are pivotally supported on a cross member disposed above the bottom of the case and downwardly from which said trays extend when opened, the extended stacks resting on the hinged side members whereby the trays may be sustained when in extended position.

Generally speaking,-we carry out the preferred embodiment of our invention in a sample case having a bottom and two hinged side members secured thereto, which members when closed complete the structure as a case. One of these side members is provided with a handle. However, both side members may be provided with handles if desired. Suitably secured in the bottom is a a side members U-shaped frame ofmetal having the side portions thereof extending upwardly to substantially the upper portion of the case when closed. A cross rod spans the spacebetween' the ends of these upright members. In this embodiment two stacks of trays are employed, the trays of the stacks'being connected by lazy tongs, so that the stacks may be readily extended and nested. The lowermost tray of each stack is provided with a handle which is grasped to manipulate the stack into opened or closed position. When in closed position the handleon the lower most tray of the stack is grasped and pulled outwardly and upwardly, whereupon the whole stack is swung about the cross-rod as a pivot, whereupon the stack may be extended. The hinged side members are so disposed that when the stacks are in extended position, the stacks rest on the hinged for a support, making possible the construction of a sample case of the lightest possible material and at thesame time affording suflicient support for the extended trays as to carry and display relatively heavy samples or the like.

The above recited and other objects of our invention will be apparent from the followmg particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the pre ferred embodiment of our invention showing one stack oftrays extended and the other stack in nested position and with the hinged side members opened.

Fig. 2 is a fragmental section showing one stack of trays in full lines in nested position and in dotted lines in partially extended position as the same are pivoted about the cross rod in operation.

3 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional View taken on line 1'4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the frame for supporting the stacks. I

The case as a. whole comprises the bottom 10 which is substantially rectangular in shape and in the form of an open-topped receptacle Hinged to each side of the bottom 10 are side members 11 and 12 which. when closed form the completed case. Member description and drawings and will be.

12 is shown as provided with a handle 18 for carrying the case when closed. It desired the under surface of the bottom may be provided with knobs l t which serve as feet when the bag placed on a surface for display or otherwise.

Suitably secured in the bottom of the bottom member 10 is a U-shapcd metal frame having uprigl'lts 15 and It; with an intermediate connecting portion 17.

The upper ends oi? the uprights l5 and 16 are each aperturcd at 18 through which aperture passes a cross rod 19 having its ends threaded as at 20 and held in position by nuts 21 on the threaded ends 20. A washer 22 is interpo ed between the inside of the uprights 15 and 16 and the adjacent arm connecting the upper tray of each stack to the cross rod 19. In the drawings the stacks of trays are designated as A. and B. In Fig. l stack A is shown as extended, while stack B is in nested or closed position. In the drawings each stack comprises tive rectangular trays of similar shape and size.

Secured to each end 01"? every tray of the stack are reinforcing members 23 fastened in position by rivets or similar devices. Connecting the several trays of a stack are links 25 and 26 pivotally attached to the ends of the trays through the reinforcing members 23, thus forming a lazy tongs arrangement connecting the several trays. Secured to the ends of the topmost tray in each stack is a reinforcement member 27 fastened by rivets 28 with an end projecting beyond the rear edge 29 of the top tray, this projecting end being apertured as at 30 to receive the cross rod 19 for securing the stacks of trays in position in the case.

Attached to the lowermost tray of each stack is a tab or handle 31 for prehension when it is found necessary to open or close a stack.

In Fig. 2 of the drawings stack B is shown in full lines in nested or closed position. To open or extend this stack of trays the handle or tab 31 is grasped and the whole stack swung upwardly about the cross rod 19 as a pivot, and then the handle 31 is pulled outwardly, the t a assuming the position shown in dotted lines in this figure. The stack is thus extended to its fully opened position when it is brought to rest as shown in Fig. 1 with one of the trays of the stack resting on the hinged side 11 or 12. To close an extended stack the handle is grasped and raised upwardly, swinging the whole stack about the cross rod 19 as a pivot whereupon the lowermost tray is pushed inwardly thereby actuating all of the trays of the stack until the same is returned to nested or closed )osition as shown in Fig. 2. When both staclrs have been so nested the hinged side members 11 and 12 are closed and fastened by any suitable device, whereupon the case may be lifted by the handle 13 and readily carried.

life have found that; a display case of the type herein disclosed may be made for carrying relatively heavy samples by utilizing material of the lightest weight. The arrangement: of trays as disclosed herein permits ready inspection of the contents of the trays as well as access thereto and presents the samples shown in said trays in a more pleasing manner than in the sample cases having the stacks of trays running upwardly from a support rather than downwardly.

It will be noted that when a stack is extended, there is but a small amount of an under-tray extending beneath the one immediately above the same, thus increasing the space available 'for displaying samples. lVhen closed, the trays of the stacks serve to cover the receptacle 10. whereas the extending of these trays to open po ition also attords access to this receptacle.

lVhile we have shown and described the details of: construction of our invention, yet. we do not wish to be understood as limiting ourselves thereto, as we contemplate changes in form and the proportion of parts and substitution oi" equivalents as circumstances may suggest or render expedient without departing from the spirit or scope of our invention.

lVe claim:

1. A sample case having a body comprising a base portion and hinged side members, said base and side members forming a complete case, uprights rising from said base, a. cross bar between said uprights, stacks of trays having the top trays of each stack pivoted to said cross bar for bodily movement of the stacks therearound, prehensible means on the lowest tray of each stack for extending and retracting the stack, said hinged side members being adapted to underlie and support said stacks when in extended position.

2. A. sample case having a body including,

a base member and hinged side portions therefor, a stack of trays therein connected together by lazy tongs adapted to extend outwardly in stair-like manner, 2. member secured to the said base member with uprights rising therefrom, a crossbar supported by the upper ends of said uprights, connections between the topmost tray oi the stack and said cross-bar for pivotally suppmrting said stack thereon, said stack being extended by swinging same bodily about said crossbar as a pivot and then pulling the lowermost tray outwardly, said stack when extended resting on one of the. hinged side members of the case body.

3. In a sample case of the class described, in combination, uprights rising from the base of said case, a cross-bar connecting the upper ends of said uprights, a pair of stacks of trays supported on said cross-bar by connection with the topmost tray of a stack, and the others adapted, when in extended position, to extend in stair-like manner downwardly and outwardly in opposite directions from said cross-bar. v

4. In a sample case of the class described, in combination, a base member, uprights rising from the ends of the base, a pair of stacks of trays each stack having its uppermost tray supported from the uprights, and

means connectlng the trays of each stack whereby the stacks may be extended outwardly and downwardly in opposite directions.

5. A sample case comprising a base in the form of an open-topped receptacle and side members hinged to the base and adapted to form therewith a complete enclosure, uprights arising from the ends of the base, and stacks of trays pivotally mounted on the uprights at their upper ends and adapted to be extended outwardly and downwardly in opposite directions so as to aflord access to the bottom receptacle as well as to the individual trays of the stacks, the stacks when enclosed within the case serving as covers for the receptacle.

6. A sample case comprising a base member, a plurality of trays adapted to be stacked in en erposed relation upon said base member, azy-tong connections between the several, trays, uprights extending from the ends of the base, and means pivotally ber, a plurality of trays adaptedto be su er- I posed in two similar stacks arranged bac to back upon said base member, lazy-tong connections between the several trays of each stack, uprights extending from the ends of the base, and means pivotally attaching the rear edges of the uppermost trays of each stack to the uprights in the vertical plane in which the stacks abut, whereby each stack may about this pivotal connection to clear the base after which it can be extended outwardly and downwardly in stair-like formation.

HARRY'H. LABADIE. BURTON B. BEERS.

be swung outwardly and upwardly:

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 1,667,938. Granted May 1, 1928, to

HARRY H. LABADIE ET AL,

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 2, line 27, after the word "rivets" insert the figure 24"; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 29th day of May, A. D. 1928.

M. J Moore,

(Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

